Getting ready to sail is so much work. From leaving our house to getting in the water (right by our house) is usually 2 hours. I have a hard time maintaining the vision of why we are doing this. The kids are running around the marina, the sail is heavy for me to stand there and hold while Brent builds his boat, and I keep asking myself, "Is this fun?" And then when we finally get in the water our 11 year old starts in screaming.
Kennon decided on the first day out that she HATES sailing!
But we coerced her to come along this time, because we wanted to take a family picture sailing past downtown Buffalo. We hoped to pass our camera off to a passing sail boat but hardly any boats came within passing distance and they wouldn't have been able to hear our request over Kennon's screams, anyway.
Seriously. Brent was ready to throw her out, just like she wanted.
"Get me out of this boat right now!"
Yes, it was a perfect afternoon for a family sail. Almost all of us loved it. Kennon and her sisters had been playing dress up that morning. So with the tears came the mascara running down her cheeks. She hid behind the towel and finally went to the bottom of the boat and tried in vain to relax.
She seriously will never be forced to sail with us again. The boat is listed and has already had five different interested parties. This was the very last sail.
I brought Marcus's car seat along but he was happier roaming the boat while Kennon chased after him screaming that we were being unfit parents and needed to watch him.
Speaking of cheeks, the other thing that infuriates Kennon is that we ever allowed Caroline to take her favorite position at the front of the boat. 
This girl was born to sail the high seas.
But she also retreated to the cabin when Savannah pointed out a pirate ship (a large sail boat with three sails) on the horizon. After that she stayed below frozen in a little corner and refused to come out till we got back to safety of the marina. Even though the rest of us tried to convince her that they probably weren't pirates after all and besides that they had sailed away. How come this is turning into somewhat of a child abuse post instead of a record of our great family outing?
I did most of the actual sailing. I finally figured out if I am steering I don't get seasick.
We didn't get back until after 7 and it was really chilly by that time. The kids didn't seem to notice the temperature and went swimming in the marina while we took down the sails.
We are sad to end the chapter on our sailboat days. Though they have been rocky at times, we will look back with fond memories I am sure.
3 comments:
I'm really proud of you guys for getting into this in the first place.
Hey ya, I love this post! Sometimes I think I'm the only person who wants to throw my child out (or overboard in your case, haha). We have many trips like this also, just going out to dinner is a dilemma sometimes, I think it's going to be great and within minutes of sitting down I have to remind myself why I toture myself...seriously.
The fun of family times.
I love that other kids have attitudes sometimes. It does seem like serious work though. I think you should tow it along to utah for the reunion. Think how we could torture all the kids.
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